North Korea at the Olympics

North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) first participated at the Olympic Games in 1964, appearing only in the Winter Olympic Games that year. Eight years later in 1972, the nation first participated at the Summer Olympic Games. Since then, the nation has appeared in every Summer Games, except when North Korea joined the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics, and when they boycotted the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea.[1]

North Korea's attendance at the Winter Games has been sporadic; eight of the last thirteen Games have included a North Korean team.

During the 1998-2007 Sunshine Policy era, North Korea and South Korea symbolically marched as one team at the opening ceremonies of the 2000,[2] 2004, and 2006 Olympics, but competed separately.

North Korea sent 22 athletes to compete in five sports at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. As in 2000 and 2004, North and South Korean athletes marched together at the opening ceremonies. A unified women's ice hockey team included players from both North and South Korea. North Korean athletes also competed in alpine skiing, figure skating, short track speed skating and cross-country skiing.[3]

Alongside the 22 athletes, North Korea sent a delegation of 400 supporters to the 2018 games. This delegation, led by North Korea's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam, included cheerleaders, taekwondo practitioners and an orchestra.[4]

North Korean athletes have won a total of 56 medals, two of which were won at the Winter Games.

Government funding plays a major role in Korea's success. Elite athletes often enjoy highly developed facilities and luxurious lifestyles, compared with their peers.[1]

In 2018, the United Nations, due to conflicts, rejected an exemption to sanctions for sporting equipment to help athletes prepare for the 2020 Summer Olympics being sent to North Korea.[5]

On November 2, 2018, North and South Korean officials announced that their countries would participate at the 2020 Olympics, held in Tokyo, Japan, as a unified Korean team.[6][7]

• List of flag bearers for North Korea at the Olympics
• North Korea at the Paralympics
• Sport in North Korea
• Category:Olympic competitors for North Korea

• "Democratic People's Republic of Korea". International Olympic Committee.
• "North Korea". Olympedia.com.
• "Olympic Analytics/PRK". olympanalyt.com.
• Taylor, Adam (10 August 2016). "The Olympics are tough for all athletes. For North Koreans, they're worse". Washington Post.